Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 7:2

a single life is good in itself, “but” is not generally expedient at Cor [1001] διὰ τὰς πορνείας, “because of the (prevalent) fornications” (the unusual pl [1002] indicating the variety and extent of profligacy: cf. 2 Corinthians 12:21); for this reason marriage, as a rule, is advisable here. It must be Christian marriage, as opposed to heathen libertinism and Jewish polygamy: “let each (man) have his own wife, and each (woman) her proper husband”. The pr [1003] impv [1004], ἐχέτω (sc. directive, not permissive), signifies “have and keep to” (cf. 2 Timothy 1:13), The variation ἑαυτοῦ γυν.… ἴδιον ἄνδρα distinguishes the husband as head and principal (1 Corinthians 11:3); “if this passage stood alone, it would be unsafe to build upon it, but this diff [1005] of expression pervades the whole of the Epp.” (Lt [1006] : cf. 1 Corinthians 14:35; Ephesians 5:22, etc.; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1; 1 Peter 3:5). Throughout the passage there is a careful balancing of the terms relating to man and wife, bringing out the equality of the Christian law. P. does not lay down here the ground of marriage, as though it were “ordained for a remedy against sin,” but gives a special reason why those should marry at Cor [1007] who might otherwise have remained single: see note on δέ, 1 Corinthians 7:1.

[1001] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[1002] plural.

[1003] present tense.

[1004] imperative mood.

[1005] difference, different, differently.

[1006] J. B. Lightfoot's (posthumous) Notes on Epp. of St. Paul (1895).

[1007] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 7:2

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